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2026 Compliance Updates for Washington State
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In May of 2025, Washington State passed Senate Bill 1213, which makes several changes to the state's Paid Family Leave program starting July 1st, 2026. Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming updates to Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML).
WA Paid Family Medical Leave
Updates for 2026
Effective January 1st, 2026, several key updates to Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave went into effect.
These updates included:
- How leave may be used
- Job protection eligibility
- Job protection requirement coverage
- Premium rates
Updates to WA PFML Leave Usage
Effective January 1st, 2026, the requirements for using leave will change.
Previously, even though leave did not have to be taken all at once, periods of leave used by employees were required to be at least 8 hours long. This is an important restriction, as part-time employees who worked 4-hour days would need to take at least two days off from work to use PFML leave.
The updated law will allow employees to take a period of leave at least 4 hours long.
Updates to Job Protection Under WA PFML
There are also several updates around job protection under WA PFML. These updates apply to which employees are entitled to job protection rights, and which employers are required to provide job protection.
Previously, employers with at least 50 employees were required to provide job protection to covered employees taking leave under WA PFML. Covered employees were those who had worked for 12 months or longer and had worked 1,250 hours in the year before the first day they took Paid Leave.
Starting January 1st, 2026, the definition of "covered employees" will change to someone who has satisfied 180 calendar days of employment with their employer.
Also beginning January 1st, 2026, the first of a series of updates to which employers are required to provide job protection will take effect. The updates are planned as follows:
- January 1st, 2026: 25 or more employees
- January 1st, 2027: 15 or more employees
- January 1st, 2028: 8 or more employees
2026 Premium Rates
The 2026 premium rate is 1.13 percent of each employee’s gross wages, not including tips, up to the 2026 Social Security cap ($184,500). For employers with 50 or more employees, the employer must cover at least 28.57% of the contribution.
Employers can cover more of the contribution as an employee benefit, and employers who aren't required to contribute may still do so, also as an employee benefit.
Getting contributions right is an important part of Washington Payroll Taxes.
Get Help with Washington State Compliance
PayNW helps companies track and report relevant employees' hours and wages to the State, and manage compliance and administration with laws such as Washington State Paid Family Medical Leave.
If your business is struggling with tracking hours, wages, or overall compliance requirements, get in touch and explore how we can help.
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